Production of L-serine by Sarcina albida.

Conditions for the production of microbial L-serine hydroxymethyltransferase and for the conversion of glycine to L-serine were studied. A number of microorganisms were screened for their abilities to form and accululate L-serine from glycine, and Sarcina albida was selected as the best organism. Enzyme activity in this organism as high as 0.12 U/ml could be produced in shaken cultures at 30 degrees C in a medium containing glucose, ammonium sulfate, glycine, yeast extract, and inorganic salts. L-Serine was produced most efficiently by shaking cells at 30 degrees C in a reaction mixture containing 20% glycine, 5 X 10(-3) M formaldehyde, and 3 X 10(-4) M pyridoxal phosphate in yields of 22 mg of broth in 5 days. L-Serine was easily isolated in 84% yields by ion-exchange resin.     

l-Serine Production by a Mutant of Sarcina albida Defective in l-Serine Degradation

For improved l-serine production, an l-serine dehydratase-defective mutant of Sarcina albida IAM 1012 was obtained. In the mutant, the activities of the enzymes responsible for l-serine production were as high as those in the parent strain, and, at a low glycine concentration, the mutant accumulated l-serine more efficiently than the parent. Under optimum conditions, 21 mg of l-serine per ml accumulated from 100 mg of glycine per ml. l-Serine was isolated from a reaction mixture as l-serine m-xylene-4-sulfonate, and free amino acid was obtained in high yields by use of an ion-exchange resin. Residual glycine was recovered at a yield of 61%.     

Production of Coenzyme A by Sarcina lutea

To develop an efficient method for the production of coenzyme A (CoA), optimal conditions for its formation from pantothenic acid, cysteine, and adenine were studied. A number of microorganisms were screened for production of CoA. Strains belonging to the genera Sarcina, Bacillus, Microbacterium, Micrococcus, and Serratia accumulated CoA. Among these, Sarcina lutea was selected as the best organism, and the culture conditions for the production of CoA were investigated with this organism. Under optimal conditions, 600 mug of CoA per ml was accumulated in the culture broth. CoA was readily isolated in high purity by the use of charcoal, diethylaminoethyl-cellulose, Sephadex G-25, and Dowex-50. Yields of isolated CoA were over 33% from culture broth.     

Iridoids from Scutellaria albida ssp. albida

Three iridoid glycosides, 6'-O-E-p-coumaroylgardoside (1), 6'-O-p-E-coumaroyl-8-epi-loganic acid (2) and scutelloside (3) were isolated from the aerial parts of Scutellaria albida subsp. albida, in addition to an anomeric mixture in equilibrium of one iridoid aglycone (4, 4a), nine iridoid glycosides (5-13), four known phenylethanoid glycosides (14-17), and six known phenolic derivatives (18-23).     

Production of Flavine-Adenine Dinucleotide from Riboflavine by a Mutant of Sarcina lutea

A study was made to develop a new method for the production of flavine-adenine dinucleotide (FAD) from riboflavine and adenine by a mutant of Sarcina lutea deficient in the enzyme adenosine deaminase. It was found that this strain could convert exogenously supplemented riboflavine to extracellular FAD. The yields of FAD were increased by addition of D-cycloserine in the culture medium. The culture conditions for FAD production were investigated under the addition of D-cycloserine, and increased production of FAD was observed with the addition of an appropriate amount of thiamine, acetate, and sodium ion. The yield of 0.7 g/liter was obtained in the optimal culture in 5 days. Accumulated FAD was readily isolated by adsorption chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography in a 70% yield.     

Induction of Efficient Mutant for Production of Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide from Sarcina lutea.

In attempt to obtain an efficient mutant for the production of flavin-adenine dinucleotide (FAD) from flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and adenine, Sarcina lutea. IAM 1099 was treated with N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, and a purine base-requiring and adenosine deaminaseless mutant was obtained as the favorable one. The mutant accumulated more than three fold as much as that by the parent strain.     

Production of L-serine by the methanol utilizing bacterium,Pseudomonas 3ab

Summary A bacterium capable of growth on methanol and some organic acids as sole source of carbon and energy has been isolated and designated Pseudomonas 3ab. This facultative methylotrophic organism apparently utilizes the serine pathway of formaldehyde fixation.When methanol was used as the sole carbon source for growth, L-serine production by Pseudomonas 3ab occurred upon the addition of glycine and methanol at the end of the exponential growth phase. The maximum yield of L-serine (4.7 g/l) was obtained when 20 g/l glycine and 8 g/l methanol were added and the pH of the culture medium was changed to 8.5.Although Pseudomonas 3ab is unable to grow on L-serine or glycine, it is very active in decomposing these amino acids. The degradation of L-serine and glycine has been shown to be pH-dependent with a minimum at pH 8.5–9.0.     

Fine Structure of Sarcina maxima and Sarcina ventriculi

The fine structure of Sarcina maxima and S. ventriculi was studied by electron and phase-contrast microscopy. The two organisms differ mainly with respect to their cell surface. A thick cellulose layer present on the cell wall of S. ventriculi was not observed on the surface of S. maxima. Carbon replication indicated that the outer surface of S. ventriculi is rough in contour, probably as the result of the fibrillar nature of the accumulated cellulose. The cytoplasm of both sarcinae contains inclusions similar to polysaccharide and polymetaphosphate granules. Mesosomes were observed in cells of S. maxima. Packets of S. ventriculi generally comprise a larger number of cells and are more irregularly constructed than those of S. maxima. Cells in large packets of S. ventriculi assume flattened or otherwise irregular shapes, whereas cells of S. maxima maintain a more uniform appearance.     

微生物发酵法生产L-丝氨酸及L-半胱氨酸研究进展

L-丝氨酸及L-半胱氨酸在食品、医药和化妆品等行业有着广泛的应用,在植物和微生物中两者从头合成的前体物均为3-磷酸甘油酸。微生物发酵生产这两种氨基酸以其社会、经济及环境效益展现出良好的前景。针对近年来微生物发酵法生产L-丝氨酸及L-半胱氨酸的研究成果,本文综述了当前国内外学者在该领域研究的热点,即代谢途径及其调节、相关氨基酸的转运及运输、菌种及菌株改造、新菌种的开发等。最后结合当前生物技术的新发展,对今后的研究方向进行了展望。     

微生物法生产L-丝氨酸代谢工程研究进展

L-丝氨酸是生物体内一种重要的中间代谢产物,为甘氨酸等多种氨基酸、核苷酸、胆碱、磷脂的合成前体,现已广泛应用于医药、食品、化妆品等领域。L-丝氨酸的生产方法有蛋白质水解提取法、化学合成法、转化法及微生物发酵法,其中微生物发酵法具有原料廉价、环境污染小、产物纯度高等优点。系统综述了微生物发酵法生产L-丝氨酸所涉及的代谢工程策略,包括微生物合成L-丝氨酸的各种代谢调控机制及相应采取的改造措施和效果,并探讨了L-丝氨酸育种技术未来的发展趋势。     

QscR基因的调控对菌株M.sp.SDM11产L-丝氨酸的影响

M.sp.SDM11是一株能以甲醇为唯一碳源生长的细菌,初步发酵检测发现能转化甘氨酸为L-丝氨酸。QscR基因产物是甲基营养菌中丝氨酸循环的一个转录调控关键因子,根据在GenBank中已报道的QscR基因序列(登录号:NC_012988.1)设计引物,以M.sp.SDM11的染色体DNA为模板,利用PCR扩增得到一大小为987 bp的QscR基因,将该基因克隆到广泛宿主载体pLAFR3上,在帮助质粒pRK2013的介导下,利用三亲本结合使其导入到菌株SDM11中构建重组菌株SDM12。对SDM12进一步研究发现,重组菌株中与L-丝氨酸合成相关的关键酶丝氨酸羟甲基还原酶(SHMT)的酶活比野生型菌株SDM11要低,约为野生型菌株的70%左右,另一个酶——羟基丙酮酸还原酶(HPR)的酶活力也只有野生型的75%。进一步将菌株进行产L-丝氨酸研究,结果表明,重组菌的产L-丝氨酸能力也明显降低,约为野生型菌株的67%左右。     

Fermentation of arabinose to ethanol by Sarcina ventriculi

Summary In the absence of oxygen, a strain of sarcina ventriculi, isolated from soil, could rapidly and completely ferment up to 20 g/l of arabinose. The principal products were ethanol, acetate, CO₂ and H₂. The yield of alcohol, up to 30% by weight of the sugar fermented, was not appreciably influenced by the pH of fermentation in the range 4–7. Sugar concentrations up to 100 g/l did not affect initial growth, but fermentation was incomplete at high sugar levels. This was probably due to the accumulation of end products other than ethanol, because the cells could grow in the presence of up to 25 g/l of added ethanol. Glucose, galactose and arabinose were sequentially utilized, in that order, when initially present as a mixed substrate. These sugars are major components of the hemicellulose from some agricultural residues. Practical implications for the general problem of pentose conversion to alcohol are discussed briefly.